What are the pros and cons of using a hosted VoIP service vs. an in-house product?
There are several benefits of using a hosted VoIP service: 1) little or no floor space required, as the provider’s site houses servers and other network equipment; 2) minimal overhead is required for equipment, as all you need are Internet access and station equipment; 3) low startup cost to launch the service, usually an installation charge plus monthly fees; 4) equipment is in a secure location offsite, so it’s protected from any disaster affecting your site. Some drawbacks include: 1) you are leasing the equipment, so you cannot depreciate it because it’s not a capital investment; 2) there can be a perceived loss of control in managing telecom activities. However, the reality is that vendors in this space are generally accommodating of users managing as much or as little of their operations as they want. How about consumer services like Skype – do see any possible benefits there? So long as Internet access is available, Skype could be a cost-effective part of a business continuity (
